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In the interest of full-disclosure, Pat Richley-Erickson, author of DearMYRTLE and other blogs writes:

1. EMAIL: Understandably, it is impossible to answer every email or blog comment. However, when Ol’ Myrt here notices trends, I may decide to use your email query as a lead-in for an upcoming blog post. For that reason, I advise my DearREADERS to use a “genealogy email” address, and maintain anti-virus and anti-spam software to minimize issues. If you do not wish to have your email address included in the blog post, please so specify in your initial query. Your query may be slightly edited for length and/or clarity. Bear in mind, you will then have to follow the blog comments to find any responses which may prove useful to your research. Ol' Myrt here is quite simply unable to pass information privately between researchers.

2. CONTENT and recommended links reflect my personal opinion. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact Pat Richley-Erickson at Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com. The sites I link to are not under my control. If their content changes after publication, I don’t expect to go back and change my blog postings, so use Google, or get creative and explore that external website for the information you seek. I also recommend InternetArchives.org’s WayBack Machine. I expect to make minor adjustments from time to time, but frankly, spending time with my grandchildren is much more important to me than fixing URLs for websites that capriciously change their links.

3. BLOG HONORS: As a genealogy blogger, I have been selected from time to time as a blog of honor for a specific conference. I clearly state so in my blog postings about a conference. FamilyHistoryExpos.com and RootsTech.org have provided free admission, and an occasional dinner in exchange for this honor.

4. ADVERTISING: This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.5. VERIFICATION: Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.6. COMPENSATION: The owner of this blog is sometimes compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner of this blog receives compensation for these posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely this bloggers' own. The owner has received products, services, payments from the following:

Amazon: I use affiliate links and advertising for Amazon on this blog and other blogs and websites I own. I receive compensation for sales made through these links to Amazon.

AncestorSync: I have received a complimentary copy of AncestorSync now in private beta.

Ancestry.com: I have attended various blogger day events which have included compensation for travel and meal expenses; I have attended various events at genealogy conferences (by invitation) which included free meals and free copies of Family Tree Maker software as well as logo ware (promotion items with the Ancestry.com logo).

BetterGEDCOM I participated as a co-founder and volunteer organizer at BetterGEDCOM. I received no income from this association. I used my own money for the chat room, advanced wikispaces account, and usually hosted a developers meeting weekly using my personal GoToWebinar.com account.

DropBox – My articles about Dropbox.com include a referral link, and have explained that an individual's Dropbox space can be expanded up to 16GB of space as we refer friends.

Family History Expos: I have been named a Blogger of Honor by Family History Expos and/or have presented as a speaker for various events including the Arizona, Utah and Georgia. In exchange, I receive complimentary registration, complimentary wi-fi access, complimentary banquet or event admission, as well as complimentary promotional gift items. However, I was not otherwise paid for my presentations or participation in the Blogger of Honor space in the exhibit hall.

Family Search: I have attended various events at genealogy conferences (by invitation) which included transportation, accommodations, meals and free FamilySearch logo promotional items. In addition, I attended the Family Search Bloggers Day on October 21, 2010 and I was compensated for transportation, hotel accommodations and meals. And I have been designated a RootsTech Official Blogger for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and official Ambassador in 2015 & 2016, which entitled me to free registration, free ethernet connection to the web, use of audio and video recording space during the conference. – I am a member of the LDS Church, but do not consider this a conflict of interest.

Federation of Genealogical Societies:As a 2011 FGS Conference Official Blogger, I received press credentials and free conference pass. All other expenses of travel, hotel and meals remain my personal responsibility.

FindMyPast.com has given me complimentary access to its website from time to time. In exchange I may or may not include information in my blog about documents I find on the website, though I am under no obligation to do so.

Footnote now called Fold3.com I use affiliate links and advertising for Footnote on this blog and other blogs and websites I own. I receive compensation for sales made through these links to Footnote.

Genealogical Publishing Company: I receive complimentary copies of books and other items for review. I keep the items for personal use or I will often donate them to local or regional libraries for their non-circulating genealogy departments, or to genealogical societies as door prizes.

GenealogyBank: I use affiliate links and advertising for GenealogyBank on this blog. I receive compensation for sales made through these links to GenealogyBank, but I pay for my membership access to this service.

GenerationStation: I have received a free account to experiment with this website in private Beta.

GeneaWebinars:I set up this .com website to point to the blog, created the Google calendar and invite all known webinar hosts and virtual presenters to have author rights to the blog and admin rights to the calendar. This effort costs me about $20 annually.

Geni.com I have received a complimentary pro membership to Geni.com from time to time.

Legacy Family Tree: I have received complimentary copies of software and training materials. I also have produced several webinars for which I have been compensated via speakers fees and recording royalties.

MyHeritage.com I previously received complimentary membership to MyHeritage.com, though now I pay for this service.

Pay What You Want - DearMYRTLE's Hangouts on Air are provided free of charge, with the consideration that if attendees like the work DearMYRTLE is doing, a consideration can be made in the form of "Pay What You Want" via PayPal or credit card through PayPal. SeeHangouts: Pay what you want blog post for details.

RootsMagic: I have received free copies of software on various occasions.

Second Life: I am a dues paying member of SecondLife.com, at this this site offering free and paid access to this virtual reality space. As the owner of the Just Genealogy area, I pay for the land (about $75 monthly) and advertising. I have created both meeting and display space for hosting genealogy meetings throughout the week. I do receive rental income from those who use cottages in Just Genealogy. Income just covers my expenses. I also have built on land in the LDS area known as the Family History Centre, where there are links to FamilySearch.org record collections. I also host weekly meetings at the Centre.

Speaking Engagements: From time to time, DearMYRTLE is invited to speak either virtually (via computer) or in person. I receive compensation amounting to travel expenses and a speaker's fee which varies depending on circumstances.

WikiTree: I have received a complimentary access to WikiTree, and have experimented with the newly emerging WikiTree photo pedigrees.

WorldVitalRecords - I have an affiliate relationship with this website, and have been provided complimentary access to the site.